Santa’s Helpers was first started in 1983 in memory of Michael Linzey, a Johns Hopkins pediatric cancer patient and beloved son, grandson, brother and nephew who passed away in mid-December 1982.  Michael fought his four-year cancer battle with grace, courage and a determined will to live. He was first diagnosed in 1978 at 10 years old and passed at the age of 14.  Michael’s bravery and strength in the worst of circumstances has changed many, many lives.  

Santa’s Helpers mission is to assist and serve other parents like the Linzey’s, other parents who may be struggling to continue their roles as their children’s Santa Claus while juggling the emotional and financial turmoil of aggressive chemotherapies, radiation sessions & inpatient hospitalizations.  Not to mention that it possibly may be their child’s last Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa.  With the encouragement and support of many family members and friends, the Linzey’s and several other pediatric oncology parents embarked on this initiative and pay it forward every year to other families and parents of critically ill children.

Initially, all the patient families we helped were selected by the Johns Hopkins pediatric oncology clinical social workers, who are intimately familiar with the situations each family is struggling with.  While there may be a financial need element, the primary criterion is the needed emotional support for the parent(s) energy & time.  With supporters increasing each year, we eventually were able to offer our services to pediatric oncology patients being treated at UMMC & Sinai hospitals.  A dozen years ago, we added Gilchrist Kids, a local pediatric hospice organization.

We’ve always made it our mission to support every child (18 and under) in the patient’s household, recognizing how a sibling’s diagnosis affects the whole family. Each child gets three (3) special wishes—whether for Santa, the season, or their holiday tradition—plus a few smaller surprise gifts! If a parent shares a clothing need, we add that too. Every child also receives a filled stocking or festive gift bag. And when a social worker alerts us to a broader family need, we put together a big shopping bag of “fun” breakfast foods to help make their holiday—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any celebration—a little brighter for everyone.

As this is an all-volunteer organization, 100% of any assistance goes directly to the children we serve. Our holiday helpers take on all kinds of joyful roles: a) purchase one or more child’s specific wishes (Shoppers!!); b) make a cash donation so others can make those specific purchases (Donors!!); c) fill multiple stockings or gift bags with age-appropriate goodies (Stocking Stuffers!!); d) wrap wish-list items purchased with donated funds (Wrappers!!); e) assist with deliveries in the week leading up to the holidays—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more (Sleigh Drivers!!). One of the most important roles is reaching out by phone to speak directly with parents to confirm we have all their children’s wishes and to coordinate delivery (Callers!!).

These efforts could not have been sustained without the unflinching dedication of Pat Linzey and Lauren Hanna, who remain co-chairs emeritus of Santa’s Helpers Baltimore.  Of course, the work put in by volunteers and our social worker partners in area hospitals needs to be acknowledged as well.  Many volunteers have been along for the entire journey, and seeking additional volunteers is one of our key goals today and moving forward.

Over the course of forty three years, Santa’s Helpers has organically grown without a formal charter or non-profit status.  This is about to change – we are formally incorporating Santa’s Helpers Baltimore as a 501-C3.  We wish to serve other critically ill children, their parents and their siblings during the holiday season.

We hope you might consider becoming a Santa’s Helper this holiday season.  Please forward this to your network of friends, co-workers and especially parents in the region who have a critically ill child in an area hospital.